I'm one who firmly believes we meet the people we need to meet when we need to meet them and we do what we need to do when we need to do it. HAHA
So here I am, back again with the writing. I'll be honest, I'm not sure how long it'll last, I have a busy family and a new business (go Plexus!!) but I'm feeling I have something to say...when do I not have something to say?!!! ;)
So this story, my story, a part of my story, from 2009 has been coming back at me for the last little while. And yes, if you're new here, you'll see I write how I talk and with no editing. Sorry if that's not your dealio, that's just how I roll. Anyway, 2009 was a ridiculous time for me. A couple years as a single mama, new day job, joined the Reserves, finalizing the big "D". Lots on the go. So what better thing to do than go for a stroll with your bestie. Air out my brain.
This is where I play the whole afternoon in slow motion. I think I even remember what I was wearing. I know I didn't have my cell phone. I wanted to be disconnected for a bit, at least the hour I was out at lunch for the walk.
Gorgeous fall day. Walking bridge was packed. J and I walked to the other side and were just about back when I saw her...my height, a little thinner, hair past her shoulders...a little messy, fists clenched, eyes focused and pained. I close my eyes right now and I see her perfectly...
She walked past and a sense of panic washed over me. Not my panic, her panic. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked back, she was getting further away from us. Her pace was steady and determined. I muttered under my breath to my walking partner that something bad was going to happen. I took one step and turned...she was climbing over the railing...
I screamed, "She's going to fucking jump!!" as I sprinted to her. She was descending the other side of the railing. I dove onto the deck of the bridge and thrust my hands through the railings as she got set to drop the other leg off the bridge support on the other side. I grabbed both her wrists, "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!!!!!!!!!!!" Nothing else existed in that moment except her and I. My face smushed against the railing, her just below me with the wind tousling her hair, the water her background.
"I don't want to be here anymore." "No one cares if I'm here or not." A tiny voice with no a bit of life left in it.
"I care if you're here. I care!!" "Please come back over to me, please."
We looked into each other's eyes for what seemed like forever. In the meantime, I was starting to sense life around me again. J was hustling people, trying to get them to let her borrow their cell phone. She told me after everyone was so reluctant to give up their damn cell phone for two seconds. They seemed oblivious to the fact that someone was laying on the walking bridge deck holding the wrists of a person hanging off the bridge. No biggie right?... That day taught me much about people.........
She then decided to join me on the other side. She agreed that I would call the shots, I would always have one hand on a wrist at all times as she climbed back over the railing. So one by one I stuck a hand through each railing until she reached the top and then I pretty much just pulled her to the deck of the bridge.
We sat face-to-face in silence, just looking at each other. I noted her wrists. They were red. I apologized if I had hurt her but I didn't want to risk her slipping away from me so yup, I held them pretty tight.
So the two of us sitting cross-legged, face-to-face, me holding onto her at the kneees and only one person asked us if we were okay. I murmured a yes and J said help was coming.
I asked her why, why was she doing this? She said she was tired. They couldn't get her medication straight, she felt her skin was crawling all the time. She said she had forgotten what it felt like to be healthy and she was just so tired. I told her I understood...not about the meds but being tired. That part I knew very well. A story for a another time but let's just say there were times when I laid in bed with the hopes I would sleep for eternity. Sometimes life just gets to be too much....
The police came. She had been reported missing from the assisted living home she was in. Wasn't the first time they said. That broke my heart a bit more, if that was even possible. She was looking to escape, not just her housing situation but the life that was tormenting her.
We exchanged names. I mumbled what happened to the police. I was more interested in how they would treat her. As she walked away with them, as she crested the little knoll of the bridge she turned to me and mouthed "thank you." I waved a weak wave and forced a smile. The police officer asked me if I needed anything, to talk to anyone. I told him I'd be fine. They all left.
J and I stood there for a minute. We were trying to process what just happened. I told her I felt like puking. The adrenaline was draining from my body and I was feeling the crash.
We walked back to my office building and I went to my new boss, had one week on the job. I just walked into her office, told her someone just tried to jump off the bridge, I was there, I couldn't stay at work, I was leaving, see you tomorrow, blah, blah, blah.
I met J at the pub across the street and quickly downed two Keiths. We recounted what happened and how we couldn't believe just one young woman stopped to see if we were okay. No one did a thing when so blatantly something was seriously wrong!!
We stayed a bit and honestly, I don't know if she drove me home or what took place but I do remember seeing the young lady some time later in the coffee shop. She was sitting. I sat a couple tables away. Our eyes met. She looked good. Better. Like she was now content. We smiled at each other. Every other person in that place totally 100% unaware of our story. I for the first time felt a sense of peace around the situation.
I think of her often. Clearly as I write today, all the memories, seven years and four months later are still fresh like it was yesterday. It still makes me tear up to think about it. I feel the tightness in my chest and the lump in my throat. That experience had a profound impact on my life. She'll never know how she saved me that day. Not quite literally because my thoughts of leaving this earth were no more but she set me on a new path. It was shortly after I went for my first Reiki session. Where my intuitive self was released. When I started picking up on symbols and signs from above. When I started to pray to my God and meditate and find my spiritual self. Where I found my passion for helping others, where I committed to educating myself so I could help others.
It is a constant journey. I have lots of stories to tell. I used to think each event was because I had shitty luck. I soon realized this was the path that was set for me before I was even conceived. It was to help me be a better servant to those who needed me. It was up to me to hold tight to the lessons and to be open with sharing so that I could help others, like she helped me that day.
The next chapter in my story is being written. I'm very excited at the prospect. Life is so good.
